OK, after dinner, and after playing with it again...
In my 2000, there is no fail-safe for the top latch. If you partially open the top, then move the top latch to the closed position, you can open or close the top, even to the point of running the top latch into the windshield. There is no fail-safe for that.
The only mechanism present is in the top latch receptacle, which has a microswitch inside. If the top is up, and the latch is secured, this switch is activated, and the top will not attempt to go up or down. This is the same switch that is activated by the imfamous "red clip".
I summary, nothing seems to stop you from putting the top down with the switch in either position. The windstop does have a relief in it to clear the latch if it is left open, so it seems obvious that this is OK, and this is how I use mine.
Now back to your regular programming. Say, does anyone know if the light stays on in the refrigerator when the door is closed?
